Question

[LB]

Recently playing on line and the following happened:
1) Kiln Fiend +3 Mutagenic Growth should = 16/8 Kiln fiend.
2) Opponent then plays lightning ax - 5 damage (after mutagenic growth cast).
3) Lightning Ax kills Kiln Fiend. How?
Thanks

[keagster]

Lightning axe is an instant, so he responded to you casting the third mutagenic growth so they all resolve and have no target.

[keagster]

Sorry for the late response, was trying to help someone get rid of 35 cards, lol

[Jabilac]

If your spells were still on the stack, and they would have to be, then Keagster is correct.  Your opponent cast Lighting Axe while at least 2x Mutagenic Growth were on the stack dealing 5 damage to it before any more of your spells could resolve.  Stack looks like this in that case:

Top of Stack

Lightning Axe Targeting Kiln Fiend
Mutagenic Growth Targeting Kiln Fiend
Mutagenic Growth Targeting Kiln Fiend

Bottom of Stack

Magic resolves downward from the top to the bottom and any instant can be cast while another spell is still trying to resolve.

[keagster]

If your spells were still on the stack, and they would have to be, then Keagster is correct.  Your opponent cast Lighting Axe while at least 2x Mutagenic Growth were on the stack dealing 5 damage to it before any more of your spells could resolve.  Stack looks like this in that case:

Top of Stack

Lightning Axe Targeting Kiln Fiend
Mutagenic Growth Targeting Kiln Fiend
Mutagenic Growth Targeting Kiln Fiend

Bottom of Stack

Magic resolves downward from the top to the bottom and any instant can be cast while another spell is still trying to resolve.

Thanks for the more in-depth response

[LB]

Thank you - that helps - I was wondering how in some cases I could save creatures using a spell like Mutagenic Growth but also lose them.


Take care

[keagster]

Np, glad to help

[Mostlynotgay]

How you would avoid this for future reference, although I'm not sure if you did this prior to damage phase during attack. is not to hold priority after casting your first mutagenic growth. You'd cast your first mutagenic, and give him priority. Then if your opponent casts his axe, you respond to it with the second growth. If he doesn't, then you just cast your next one.

This doesn't work if you're trying to do combat tricks and casting after blockers, but before damage. Because there won't be a second phase to cast a growth before the damage is declared.